Brian Brown, the president of the
National Organization for Marriage (NOM), on Monday touted West
Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall's endorsement of a proposed federal gay
marriage ban.
Rahall is the first Democrat to sign on
as a co-sponsor to the proposed legislation, which was introduced by
Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a Republican, within days following the
Supreme Court knocking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and
clearing the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California.
Brown held up the addition of 12
co-sponsors since the bill's introduction as proof that his side is
winning.
“The proposed amendment now has over
40 cosponsors signed on!” Brown wrote in a blog post. “Most
significantly, it has been announced that the first Democrat
(hopefully of many!) has joined as a cosponsor: Rep. Nick Rahall of
West Virginia's 3rd District!”
“Rep. Rahall's support proves once
again that marriage is an issue that cuts past partisan politics and
special interests, speaking universally to our shared common sense
principles, such as every child's right to have both a mom and a
dad.”
“The progress already made on getting
this amendment to a vote on the floor of the House is only possible
because NOM supporters like you band together and take the time to
tell your elected leaders that you, and the majority of Americans,
stand for marriage – and that those who represent us in Washington
need to do the same,” he
added before asking for a donation.
However, a 2004 attempt to approve a
similar amendment at a time when public opposition was at its peak
(60%) and only 1 state had legalized marriage equality failed to
clear Congress. Nearly a decade later, with support hovering above
50 percent and 13 states plus the District of Columbia having
approved such unions, passage seems far less likely.